Two players, who will no longer play for the Black and Reds next season, face each other twice in five days in European Championship qualifiers: Captain Elisa Senß, who is set to play for Eintracht Frankfurt, and Germany start Group A4 at home on 31 May and away on 4 June against Poland with striker Nikola Karczewska, whose loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur is over. Germany have started the qualifiers with a perfect six points. Poland, who lost both of their first games, also have Sylwia Matysik in their squad for the games on matchdays 3 and 4.
The Iceland international Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir is in the same group away and then at home to Austria. Iceland have three points to date. Hungary, with one point from two games, play away and then at home to Switzerland in League B1 with central defender Lilla Turányi in the squad.
Two Leverkusen players have been called up to the Germany U20 squad. Sofie Zdebel has support within the team from Loreen Bender, who is set to make her debut at a higher age group following seven appearances and five goals for the U19s. The squad under coach Kathrin Peter will meet up in Sweden to prepare for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup (31 August 22 September in Colombia). Friendlies have been arranged every three days with matches against the U23 teams from Poland, Australia and Sweden.
The Germany U19 squad will get together at a training camp in Bad Blankenburg from 27 to 30 May in preparation for the European Championships in Lithuania (14 to 27 July). That includes a Bayer 04 quintet: Goalkeeper Anne Moll, Paulina Bartz, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Julia Mickenhagen and Delice Boboy. No international fixtures have been organised. Julie Jorde is away with the Norway U23 squad. A friendly against an unnamed opponent is planned for 31 May. Her teammates Emilie Bragstad and Synne Skinnes Hansen are on standby for the senior team who play Italy in two Euro qualifiers.
The international call-ups:
Elisa Senß (Germany)
31.05.: Germany vs Poland (Euro qualifier)
04.06.: Poland vs Germany (Euro qualifier)
Nikola Karczewska and Sylwia Matysik (Poland)
31.05.: Germany vs Poland (Euro qualifier)
04.06.: Poland vs Germany (Euro qualifier)
Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir (Iceland)
31.05.: Austria vs Iceland (Euro qualifier)
04.06.: Iceland vs Austria (Euro qualifier)
Lilla Turányi (Hungary)
31.05.: Switzerland vs Hungary (Euro qualifier)
04.06.: Hungary vs Switzerland (Euro qualifier)
Loreen Bender and Sofie Zdebel (Germany U20s)
29.05.: Poland U23 vs Germany (Friendly)
01.06.: Australia U23 vs Germany (Friendly)
04.06.: Sweden U23 vs Germany (Friendly)
Paulina Bartz, Delice Boboy, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Julia Mickenhagen, Anne Moll (all Germany U19s)
27.05. – 30.05.: Training camp in Bad Blankenburg
Julie Jorde (Norway U23s)
31.05.: Friendly (opponents to be confirmed)
Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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The Bayer 04 Women welcome FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday night in a white retro look - and in a unique Bayer 04 ‘50 Years of Fan Clubs’ special edition jersey. In sporting terms, head coach Roberto Pätzold's team will face the Bundesliga's bottom team at 18:30 CET looking to keep their chances of third place in the table alive with six games left to play.
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Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.
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A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without the two strikers in the immediate future. Caroline Kehrer suffered a torn ligament in her right knee and Amy Wrigge tore her cruciate ligament.
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